Building panel system

ABSTRACT

A BUILDING PANEL SYSTEM WHEREIN ADJACENT PANELS ARE PROVIDED WITH LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING INTERFITTING LIPS WHICH ARE CONTOURED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT A CAMMING OR WEDGING ACTION IS SECURED WHEN THE LIPS ARE FITTED TOGETHER IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A HIGHLY EFFICIENT INTERLOCKED JOINT BETWEEN THE ASSEMBLED PANELS.

w. L. TALBERT 3,559,359 BuiLaiue PANEL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 10, 1969WILLIAM L. TALBERT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,559,359 BUILDINGPANEL SYSTEM William L. Talbert, 355 Folkstone Way, York, Pa. 17402Filed Jan. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 790,378 Int. Cl. E0411 3/363 US. Cl.52-394 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A building panel systemwherein adjacent panels are provided with longitudinally extendinginterfitting lips which are contoured in such a manner that a camming orwedging action is secured when the lips are fitted together in order toprovide a highly efiicient interlocked joint between the assembledpanels.

This invention relates to a building panel system of the type having aplurality of similarly formed sheet metal panels which are provided withinterlocking lips or edge joints to enable the panels to be quicklyassembled together to constitute a rigid wall, partition or other typeof structural building unit.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel jointconstruction for building panels for enabling ready assembly of thepanels in such a manner that they 'will be securely locked togetherthroughout theirlength in order to provide a strong structural unitwhere tendencies toward relative sliding movement may be eliminated.

A further object is to provide a novel panel joint construction whichenables the panels to be readily assembled and disassembled without thenecessity of special tools and avoiding the use of fasteners whichpenetrate the exterior sheet and are thus visible from the exterior whenthe assembly of the panels is completed.

Another object is to provide a panel joint constructed in such a mannerthat the panel edges or lips forming the parts of the joint are formedwith turned or rounded portions which not only cooperate to secure ajoint of great strength but also avoids the use of sharp edges whichmight be bent or otherwise damaged in shipping and handling the panels.

Still another object is to provide in a panel joint of the above type, anovel construction whereby the panel system, when assembled, forms aweathertight, airtight and watertight structural unit especially adaptedfor us as an exterior wall.

A still further object enables the use of concealed fasteners forsecuring the panel system to structural framing members to provide aninterlocked wall structure possessing symmetry in the joined exteriorprofiles with a minimum of exposure of the line of the joints betweenthe panels. I

Still another object relates to the construction of the interlockingjoint which provides a camming action when the panels are assembled,thus materially increasing the strength of the joint.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fullyhereinafter from a consideration of the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It will beexpressly understood however, that the drawing is utilized for purposesof illustration only and is not to be taken as a definition of thelimits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein severalembodiments of the inventionare illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a panel system embodying theprinciples of the present invention and 3,559,359 Patented Feb. 2,, 1971particularly illustrating the novel edge joint construction and themanner of assembling the panels;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a modified form ofjoint including a sealing member and a clip for securing the panel to aframe member;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the joint of FIG. 1 with amodified form of securing clip;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the joint of FIG. 1 with stillanother form of securing clip;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a modified form of joint and securing clip, and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the joint of FIG. 1 when used to connect flatpanel members.

Referring to FIG. 1, the novel panel system and joint construction ofthe present invention is illustrated therein as comprising end portionsof three similarly formed sheet metal panels 10, 12 and 14, each ofwhich is shaped to provide a pair of flat faces 16 and 18 arranged inspacedapart parallel planes and interconnected by a longitudinalextending web 20. The side edges of each panel are formed withinterengaging lips to provide a novel interlocking joint whichconstitutes an important feature of the invention.

As shown, the left edge of panel 12 is formed throughout its length witha lip 21 which is constituted by a pair of spaced-apart substantiallyparallel wall portions 22 and 24 which are connected by a lower curvedpart 26, the upper part of the wall portion 24 being reversely curved toform a rounded edge 28 which is spaced from the wall portion 22.Preferably, the wall portion 22 is bent at an acute angle with respectto the face 16 so that the web 20 and the wall portion 22 bearsubstantially the same angular relationship with respect to the face 16as illustrated. The opposite edge of panel 12 is formed with acooperating lip 29 by bending the edge upwardly and over the face 18 atan acute angle to form a wall portion 30 which is connected to said face18 by a lower curved part 32, the upper end of the wall portion 30 beingreversely curved to provide a rounded edge 34 having substantially thesame curvature as the rounded edge 28. It will thus be seen that theformation of the lip 29 as just described, forms a hollow recess 31having an open mouth 33 defined by the spacing of the marginal part ofthe rounded edge 34 above the face 18 of the panel 12. Opposite edges ofthe panel 14 are formed with lips in a manner similar to the edges ofthe panel 12 and the right edge of the panel 10 is shaped in the samemanner as the right edge of the panel 12.

Referring to the right portion of FIG. 1, the panels 12 and 14 areangularly related with respect to each other and properly positioned forinterconnection of the lips 21 and 29. Therefrom it will be observedthat the lip 21 is placed within the recess 31 with the curved part 26of the lip 21 of panel 14 engaging the curved part 32 of the lip 29 ofpanel 12 throughout the longitudinal extent of the panels. Thereafter,it is only necessary to pivot the panel 14 downwardly with respect tothe panel 12 to move the lips of the joint into the position shown inthe left portion of FIG. 1 whereupon the panels are securely interlockedtogether with the faces 18 and 16 of the respective panels in parallelrelationship. In such interlocked condition, it is pointed out that theparts 24, 26 and 28 of the lip 21 are positioned within the hollowrecess 31 while the wall portion 22 of the lip substantially closes theopen mouth 33 of the recess.

One of the important features of the interlocking joint above describedresides in shaping the parts to provide a camming or wedging actionbetween the right edge of one panel and the left edge of an adjacentpanel as they assume the interlocked position at the left portion ofFIG. 1. This is achieved by arranging the angularity between the wallportion 30 and the face 18 of the panel 10, for example, less than thatbetween the wall portion 22 and the face 16 of the panel 12, and bymaking the height of the wall portion 30 greater than the height of thewall portion 24. Stated differently, the distance between the curvedparts 32 and 34 measured along a line substantially parallel to the wallportion 30 is greater than the distance between the curved part 26 andthe rounded edge 28. It will thus be seen from the assembled interlockedposition shown in the left portion of FIG. 1 that by reason of thisarangement the distance between the face 18 and the rounded edge 34measured normally to the face 18 is less than the distance between therounded edge 28 and the curved part 26 measured parallel to the wallportion 22. Due to this construction and referring to the right portionof FIG. 1, as the panel 14 is pivoted downwardly with respect to thepanel 12 and with the curved parts 26 and 32 in engagement, the wallportion 24 of the lip 21 will first engage the wall portion 30 of thelip 29. Continued pivotal movement of the panel 14 will slide the curvedpart 26 to the left on face 18 and cam the rounded edge 28 into firmwedging engagement with the rounded edge 34, thus providing a tightinterlocking joint between the panels after they assume the positionshown in the left portion of FIG. 1. Therefrom, it will be appreciatedthat the line of contact between the curved part 26 and the face 18forms a line of restraint which in effect, prevents or restrains anyfurther movement of the curved part 26 toward the left, and the lips 21and 29 of the panels are wedged into a firm and interlocked position. Itwill be appreciated that the springiness of the material of the panelswill greatly assist the firmness of the joint during the aforesaidcamming action.

Referring to FIG. 2, a nailable clip 36 is adapted to cooperate with thewall portion 30 and rounded edge 34 in order to fasten the lip of onepanel to a structural support 38 prior to interlocking of the adjacentpanel, it being understood that the clips 36 are concealed from viewfrom the exterior after the adjacent panel has been assembled. Alongitudinally extending elastic seal 40 may be positioned at the curvedpart 32 which is compressed during assembly of the joint to secure aweather-tight seal and if desired, a ridge 42 may be formed in the face18 to function as a stop for limiting the camming action between theparts during assembly.

A modified form of clip 44 is shown in FIG. 3 for use where the panelsystem is to be secured to an angle type of support 46. In this form,the clip is provided with a slot 48, which may be formed with serratedsides, for receiving a ledge 50 of the support 46, a striking tab 52enabling ready assembly of the clip with respect to the panel andsupport.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the panel systemsimilar to that shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a plurality of spacednotches 54 for receiving a locking web 56 formed on a snap-on clip 58.It will be clear that with this construction, any tendency for thepanels to move longitudinally with respect to each other is eliminated.In FIG. 5, base 60 of clip 58 is bent in such a manner that the clip andpanel system may be secured to a suitable structural support by means ofnail 62. It will be understood that in both FIGS. 4 and 5, the clips 58are positioned in place prior to assembly of the adjacent panel so thatthey are concealed by the adjacent panel.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified lip formation for panels and 12 whereinlip 64 of panel 12 is constituted by spaced parallel wall potrions 66,68 and lip 70 of panel 10 has a wall potrion 72 which is bent over theface 18 of panel 10 and arranged at an acute angle with respect thereto.Wall portion 72 has a curved edge 74 against which the curved edge 76 ofwall portion 68 is forced during the camming action incident to assemblyof the panels as in the case of FIG. 1. If desired, the lower end of theCal lip 64 may be formed to accommodate an elastic sealing strip likethat shown at 40 in FIG. 2 in order to provide a weather-tight seal whenthe joint is completed. A securing clip 78, conforming to the shape ofthe wall portion 72 and the curved edge 74 may be utilized for fasteningthe panel 10 to a structural support prior to interconnection of thelips 64 and of the interlocking joint.

FIG. 7 illustrates the joint of FIG. 1 when used to interconnect a pairof panels 78 and 80 which lie in a common plane. In this case, the face16 may be bent downwardly at 82 to engage the curved part 26 thusproviding a stop means for limiting relative pivotal movement of thepanels during assembly.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that the present inventionprovides a novel interlocking joint for quick and ready assembly ofstructural building panels, the longitudinally extending edge lips ofadjacent panels being contoured in such a manner as to attain a cammingaction in order to provide a joint possessing great strength. The novelconstruction also enables the use of concealed sealing strips in orderto assure a weather-tight structure which is especially desirable inconnection with exterior walls. The various forms of clips disclosedherein also provides an arrangement whereby the panels may be readilysecured to structural framing members without being visible from theexterior when the panel system is assembled.

While the invention has been shown and described herein withconsiderable particularity it will be understood by those skilled in theart that the same is capable of a variety of expressions. For example,while the panels have been referred to herein as being formed of sheetmetal it will be understood that they be of plastic or other suitablematerial capable of being shaped and contoured as disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. A building panel construction comprising at least two panels each ofwhich is provided with a face and a longitudinally extending edge, theedge of one panel being formed to provide a first lip extending upwardlyfrom the face of said one panel and connected thereto by a curved part,said lip being arranged at an acute angle with respect to said face, theupper end of said first lip having an inwardly and downwardly curvedpart terminating in a free edge spaced above said face of said one panelto form an open month, said free edge being positioned more closelyadjacent to said latter face than all portions of said inwardly curvedpart and the first lip forming with said latter face a hollow recess,the boundaries of said recess comprising a plane extending from saidfree edge normal to said latter face, said inwardly curved part, saidcurved part and the portion of said latter face between said curved partand the juncture of said plane and said latter face, the edge of theother panel being formed to provide a second lip extending downwardlyfrom the face of the other panel and arranged at an angle with respectto said latter face which is greater than said acute angle, said secondlip having a lower curved section and an upper section curved to form arounded edge, the curvature of said rounded edge being substantially thesame as that of said inwardly curved part, the other panel beingangularly positioned with respect to said one panel with the lowercurved section and the rounded edge of the second lip being positionedentirely within said hollow recess and with said lower curved sectionengaging the portion of the face of said one panel within said recess,the distance between the inwardly curved part of the first lip and theface of said one panel being less than the distance between the curvedsection and the rounded edge of the second lip, substantially pivotalmovement of the other panel with respect to said one panel to bring theminto interlocked assembled relation moving the lower curved section ofsaid second lip along the face of said one panel toward said open mounthto effect a wedging action between the upper and lower curved sectionsof the second lip and the inwardly curved part of the first lip and theface of said one panel and moving the first wall portion of the secondlip to a position substantially closing the open mouth of said recess.

2. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 1 which includesa clip engaging the curved part of the first lip for securing the onepanel to a structural member prior to assembly of the other panel.

3. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein theclip is provided with a slotted edge portion for receiving a structuralmember.

4. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein theclip is provided with a striker tab on the edge opposite the slottededge.

5. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidsecond lip is arranged at an acute angle with respect to the face of theother panel.

6. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidsecond lip comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart wallportions interconnecting said curved ends.

7. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein adeformable sealing strip is positioned between said lips and iscompressed during the wedging action when said panels are pivoted withrepect to each other.

8. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidsealing strip is compressed between said lower section of the second lipand the face of said one panel.

9. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidone panel is formed with longitudinally extending stop means forlimiting the pivotal movement of the panels with respect to each other.

10. A building panel construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein thefirst and second lips are provided with aligned slots for receiving alocking member to prevent relative sliding movement of the assembledpanels.

11. A building panel construction comprising at least two panels each ofwhich is provided with a face and a longitudinally extending edge, theedge of one panel being formed to provide a first lip extending upwardlyfrom the face of said one panel and connected thereto by a curved part,said lip being arranged at an acute angle with respect to said face, theupper end of said first lip having an inwardly curved part terminatingin a free edge spaced above said face of said one panel to form an openmouth and the first lip forming with said latter face a hollow recess,the edge of the other panel being formed to por- 6 vide a second lipextending downwardly from the face of the other panel and then upwardlytoward the latter face, said second lip being arranged at an angle withrespect to said later face which is greater than said acute angle, saidsecond lip having a lower curved section and an upper section curved toform a rounded edge having an outer end, said outer end and said freeedge extending substantially in the same direction, the curvature ofsaid rounded edge being substantially the same as that of said inwardlycurved part, the lower curved section and the rounded edge of the secondlip being positioned entirely within said hollow recess when said otherpanel is angularly positioned with repect to said one panel, thedistance between the inwardly curved part of the first lip and the faceof said one panel being less than the distance between the curvedsection and the rounded edge of the second lip, substantially pivotalmovement of the other panel with respect to said one panel to bring theminto interlocked assembled relation moving the lower curved section ofsaid second lip along the face of said one panel toward said open mouthto effect a wedging action between the upper and lower curved sectionsof the second lip and the inwardly curved part of the first lip and theface of said one panel and moving the first wall portion of the secondlip to a position substantially closing the open mouth of said recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 873,920 12/1907 Burris 525201,763,870 6/1930 Talmage 52531 2,812,813 11/ 1957 Zarwowski 52-529X3,157,965 11/1964 Watson 52529X 3,233,382 2/1966 Graveley 5253l3,253,376 5/1966 Straus 52394 3,269,075 8/ 1966 Marini 52-522 3,289,36512/1966 McLaughlin 52....522

FOREIGN PATENTS 503,653 1951 Belgium 5252l 599,317 1959 Italy 52-52OJOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.-R. 52-478, 522, 529

